Apple Planning New R&D Center in Japan

By Jeff Gamet

Dec 9th, 2014 11:47 AM EST

Apple is planning on building a large-scale research and development center outside of Tokyo, Japan. News of the project comes courtesy of Japan Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, and has been confirmed by Apple.

"Apple has decided it [will] undertake cutting-edge R&D in Japan," the Prime Minister said, according to Reuters. "It will be formally announced soon."

The facility will be the technical development center will be in Yokohama, outside of Tokyo. A company spokesperson told Reuters that R&D for product development stay in the United States, which means the Japan center will focus on other tasks like component design, and manufacturing processes.

Apple will create several dozen new jobs when the facility opens, although there isn't any word yet on exactly when that will be.